Hello dear readers and welcome back. Today we are covering one of my favourite archetypes in Gate Ruler, my original inception from set 3 taken to greater heights, the absolute bane of most if not all ‘Drive decks‘, none other than Supernatural Trickster. It is worth noting that while I have retained the former colour combination of Red (Yomajin Front) and Pink (Wonderverse), continuing to advocate for its superiority, due to its ability to maintain tempo, there is also an alternate build available in this article that utilises Blue (ATLAS), should you have an affinity for a slower playstyle.
The Decklist
Putting the trick in Trickster, this decklist relies on and utilizes this particular Ruler and its inherent ability to play CNTs from hand when receiving two or more combat damage per instance. With a quarter of CNTs (if not more depending on the build) having the function to exhaust an opponent’s unit or ruler, and others like Rite of Ophidian Reincarnation being capable of dismantling boards and thinning resources when coupled with particular units, any semblance of strategy or perceived optimal attack sequencing can quickly be thrown into disarray.
Key Units
This section will work to denote the relevancy of the various units included in the list at hand, in addition to analyzing their purported functions. Specifically, Huli of the Spider Lily is probably the most important card of the list. It is capable of Genesis Summoning Sakuya-Hime Kami of Blossoms thus initiating a reshuffle of the deck, something that may be necessary in light of the use of cards like Star Dragon Azariah or summoning Sakuya-Hime from hand.
However, what really cements her inclusion in the deck is her undeniable synergy with the CNT Rite of Ophidian Reincarnation. Essentially, when chosen by the aforementioned card’s effect, it serves as a form of dual removal, doubling the card’s effectiveness. In order to aid the deck in its realisation of this combo, another key Unit that is played alongside Huli is the aforementioned Dragon; Azariah. Specifically, if a player has Huli in hand, the former card’s ‘instant action discard ability’ will allow them to summon the Mage with her ‘Famine’s Relief‘ effect when discarded.
Moving onto the Schrodinger cards, it is clear that S.C.O.O.B. is mainly included as it serves its usual function; being an all-important unofficial 17th CNT for the deck. Yet, it also synergizes quite well with Rite of Ophidian Reincarnation, in so far as it can be summoned back to the field to serve as a very sturdy defensive Unit, considering its high health total. Conversely, Schrodinger Spirit of the Singularity is more of a utility card, enabling combos and even allowing the Legendary Schrodinger to be summoned from the dropzone via its own special summoning effect, assuming it was ditched to the dropzone by ‘over-setting’ or ‘discard’ since it is unplayable from hand or field in the conventional sense.
Last but certainly not least, we have the Kamaitachi package. Jiro of the Kamaitachi searches out what is potentially the best card printed for the Trickster Ruler to date, Saburo of the Kamaitachi, and also initiates a reshuffle. Absolutely crucial for maintaining tempo, a must include without a lot of superfluous analysis required.
Alternate Build
While this is certainly an option available to players, I am genuinely apprehensive about advocating for it in any way, shape, or form. This is mostly due to the fact that I have had mixed results with this particular list. While ATLAS does offer a lot more defensive utility over Wonderverse, with inclusions like Armor of Ambition, Dimensional Lamination, Embrace of Eons, and even Silver Uppercut, it is much slower in terms of setup and not as effective at clearing an opponent’s board.
Final Thoughts
I genuinely believe that this particular archetype is in a very good position this set, from a meta-perspective. The prevalence of drive rulers automatically lends further credence to its existence. While it may not have received an abundant amount of direct support, what set 4 did end up offering was enough to allow the deck to maintain its spot in Tier 2. Whether or not it sits at the top of its competitive classification or acts as a gatekeeper for other decks, remains to be seen. However, as it stands the deck and by extension, the Supernatural attribute is definitely a force to be reckoned with, so much so you are far more likely to lose to decking out than to your opponent actually dealing enough damage.
At long last, I have showcased the updated version of this attribute-specific deck that pulled me away from my initial Genesis binge in set 2 and set me on the path of further investment in Gate Ruler. I do sincerely hope you enjoyed this write-up. If you are curious to see more, do not forget to give me a follow on Twitter and if you would like to be a part of the creative process that goes into doing these write-ups, you can also check out my Patreon.
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